Monday, November 4, 2024
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
by Devon Price, Ph.D.
EVERYONE needs to read this book.
Those in power, especially.
Reading this book VINDICATED my struggles with communication. Here's a quote:
"If Autistic people are to be fully included in public life, we must vastly expand accessibility requirements to cover the sensory needs of Autistic people and regulate the accessibility of events as well as buildings. It's not just architecture that can be hostile to disabled bodies and minds. As this book has repeatedly shown, many of the ways that disabled people are excluded are far more subtle, and social, than a clear-cut lack of ramps or Braille signage."
– pg. 235
For those who don't know, "masking" is hiding our Autistic traits so we're not discriminated against, which can be physically and emotionally draining. Don't believe discrimination would happen if the mask was dropped?
Bouncing off the quote, businesses need to be REQUIRED to learn the communication styles of Autistics.
“What do you mean?”
Autistics NEED direct communication and a clear definition of expectations.
We NEED to know what to expect.
We NEED you to, instead of getting angry when we don't get the hint, stop hinting.
We NEED you to, instead of getting angry at the small talk being done wrong, skip it.
Not understanding someone's needs doesn't mean you get to dismiss them.
Communication is a two-way street. We Autistics shouldn't have to mask how we naturally communicate to not be shunned by society.
10/10
—
DEVON PRICE, PhD, is a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud Autistic person. His research has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and the Journal of Positive Psychology. Devon's writing has appeared in outlets such as the Financial Times, HuffPost, Slate, Jacobin, Business Insider, LitHub, and on PBS and NPR. He lives in Chicago, where he serves as an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
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